Page 202 (1/2)

"Surely," said I, "surely you knohat I mean--?"

"There are Laura and Beatrice and Helen and Aspasia and Phryne,

and hosts of others," said Charain

"Oh, yes--our blacksmith has read of so many women in books that

he has no more idea of women out of books than I of Sanscrit"

And, in a little while, seeing I was silent, she condescended to

glance towards me: "Then I suppose, under the circumstances, you have never been--in

love?"

"In love?" I repeated, and dropped my pipe

"In love"

"The Lord forbid!"

"Why, pray?"

"Because Love is a disease--abetween a man and

his life's work Love!" said I, "it is a cala been in love himself, our blacksmith, very

naturally, knows all about it!" said Chars as I have read--" I began

"More books!" she sighed

"--words of men, much wiser than I--poets and philosophers,

written--"